Teeth cleaning assembly



May 3, 1949. F. B. COOPER TEETH CLEANING ASSEMBLY I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 194"! INVENTOR- FredBLooper M %3 I215 Hfiy's May 3, 1949.

Filed May 5, 1947 F. B. COOPER TEETH CLEANING AS SEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORI Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED TEETH CLEANING ASSEIVIBLY Fred B. Cooper, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada Application May 5, 1947, Serial No. 746,111

4 Claims.

My invention relates to teeth cleaning assemblies, an object of the invention being to provide an assembly of the character herewithin described by means of which teeth may be more scientifically cleaned and stains and film removed therefrom than is the case with conventional cleaning methods.

A further object is to provide means for cleaning teeth by the use of which the fissures between adjacent teeth may be more satisfactorily cleaned, as well as under the free margin of the gums and without irritation thereto.

A further object is to provide means whereby a high lustre may be imparted to the teeth, and at the same time the removal of stains therefrom, and all without damage to the enamel or irritation of the gums so that the possibility of dental decay and mouth diseases may be materially reduced.

A further object is to provide means for cleaning the teeth which will materially reduce the quantum of manual effort involved, and which manual effort, as for example when expended in the use of a conventional tooth brush is generally misapplied in Ways which not only fail adequately to clean the teeth, but are liable to damage the teeth.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional representation of my handpiece.

Figure 2 is a view of my handpiece on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a basal projection of the applicating element depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a basal projection of an alternative form of applicating element.

Figure 5 is a predominantly sectional representation of my hydraulic turbine power-source.

Figure 6 illustrates the hydraulic turbine of Figure 5 in situ with respect to the plumbing arrangement of an associated wash basin.

Figure '7 is an illustration of a hydraulic turbine designed for location between a water faucet and discharge duct.

Figure 8 is a predominantly sectional representation of the faucet connector employed in connection with the embodiment of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an illustration of a manually oper- 2 able electric motor to which the handpiece of Figure 1 may be directly attached.

Figure 10 is an illustration of a Wall-mounted electric motor to which a flexible shaft may be connected leading to my handpiece as per Figure 1.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

My teeth cleaning assembly comprises the following main parts: The handpiece collectively designated 1 in the accompanying Figure 1, a rotary applicating element collectively designated 2 as depicted in Figures 1 and 3 with an alternative embodiment 3 depicted in Figure 4, the source of power in the form of a hydraulic turbine collectively designated 4 in Figure 5, or the alternative embodiment 6 thereof in Figure '7, and the faucet connector collectively designated I in Figure 8 for use with the embodiment of power source designated 6.

Alternatively to the turbines of Figures 5 and '7 I may employ either the manually operable electric motor collectively designated 8 in Figure 9, or the wall-mounted motor collectively designated 9 in Figure 10,

Proceeding first to described my handpiece I, the same in detail is to be understood as comprising an elongated casing collectively designated l0, which is diametrically and longitudinally bisected into the parts II and [2. The aforesaid casing is angulated as designated by the are [3 to degrees, and has extending through the length thereof an open ended aperture l4 receivable within which are primary and secondary drive shafts l5 and I6 respectively.

An annular recess H is formed in the aforesaid casing concentrically with respect to aperture I4 to receive collar I8 WhlCh is secured for rotation to shaft l5. By the agency of recess l1 and collar I8 I am able to prevent shaft l5 from endplay. Upon one end of shaft I5 is a small crown gear [9, and at the other end a bevelled pinion 20, which latter meshes with a similar pinion 2| keyed to the secondary shaft "5.

Gear I9 meshes with a similar gear 22 connect ed to a conventional flexible shaft generally indicated by numeral 23 connected to a source of power. That end of the casing ill to which flexible shaft 23 is connected is united as to the parts II and I2 thereof by the internally screwthreaded sleeve 24. Intermedially on the casinglength, an internally screw-threaded collar 25 is provided engageable with the external threadstand portion 26 of my casing Ill. The two parts I l and I2 are thus sustained in symmetrical contiguity, and additionally so by the pairs of aligning studs and mating recesses collectively designated 21.

To theopposite end of secondary shaft 16 to that to which pinion 2| is connected is secured a pointed element 28 attachable to which is what I designate as the combined attaching head and packing gland 29 of the applicating element 2. This applicating element consists of'a nipple or cup portion 39'having a conoid and'spirally striated crater 3|, and is intended to be rotated in the direction of arrow 32 whereby it is to be understood that dentrifrice within the-crater is prevented from being thrown outwardly by centrifugal action.

In Figure 4 I have depicted a slightly modified form of applicating element wherein the basal perimeter 32 is scalloped to accomplish, according to my belief, a better cleaning action-between the teeth.

The'headand gland portion 29 of my applicating element which constitutesthe apical sendsof the 'elementds receivable withinthe annnlarre- (3655"3'3 provided therefor in the end of casingzlfl, andait will'be understood that in use, the resilient material of which the element 2 is formed-preferably rubber-will expand against the :wall :of recess 33 thus tending to prevent leakageof dentrifrice into the interior of the casing. To facilitate such expansion so as to'increase the'frictional ,co-efficient between the gland '29 and the shaftto which it is attached, I provide within the annular recess! an annular metal platform or disc 35 which, with thepointed element :28 is secured rotatably to shaft I6. Thus the inner end surface of gland 29 will in use bear against the adjacent surface of disc 35 for the purpose aforesaid.

My hydraulic turbine for operatin theaforesaid handpiece consists of an elongated-cylindrical or tubular casing 35 connected atone-end thereof with a fluid input duct 31, and 'at the other with a discharge duct 38 via the T unions 3?: and 40. Duct 37 may be the type supplying water to faucet ll of the bathroom fixture col-- lectively designated 52, while duct 38can be the Waste pipe 43 of such fixture.

Rotatably mounted within the tube 36 is an Archimedean screw'tt which maybe sustained against end-shifting by means of-the rings 45 against which the ends of the flight of the aforesaid screw may bear as clearly depicted in the accompanying Figure 5. Upon'the midpoint of the screw-core or-shaft 46 is a bevelled gear *4"! designed to mesh witha similar gear 48 keyed to shaft 49 projecting throughtube 36 at right angles to the axis thereof and operatively united to flexible shaft 23 which I have already described inconnection with my handpiece in Figure l.

Apetcock 59 may if desired be provided at anydesired location such as I have illustrated in Figure 6 and from the foregoing it will be apparent" that when the petc'ock is opened, water will flow through my turbine into the-waste pipe or duct 38 thus operating the screw 44 and so imparting movement to flexible shaft 23, the shafts of.my handpiece i, and the teeth applicating element'3 mounted thereon.

In Figure '7 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of hydraulic turbine capable of being quickly attached and detached within a bathroom wash basin 5| between a faucet 52' and the spaced aperture 53 of the basin. structurally this-embodiment is identical with that'depicted in Figure- 5, but the dischargeend 54 is in: this-case provided with a resilient fitment 55 leading into the aforesaid aperture 53 while a flexible nozzle 56 is provided at the input end to unite with the faucet connector of Figure 8 and which I have collectively designated 1.

The connector I in detail consists of an externally screw-threaded and conoid adaptor 51 of resilient material such as rubber, this adaptor being sfrictionally attachable to: the faucet. *Around the adaptor extends -a screw-threaded and split thimble or shell 58 of thin and yieldable material such as brass, the split therein being indicated'at..59. Designed to extend around the aforesaid thimble is a tightening ring 60, the interior surface whereof is screw-threaded and conoid to engage the aforesaid thimble whereby thelargeend of my adaptor may be progressively tightened on the faucet 52.

Gn-the small end of the adaptor 51 I provide any conventional means such as the annularly rachetted configuration .6 I for the secure. attachment of pipezfifiithereto. With such. an arrangement as I have just. described'it will be apparent that-1am able toattach'the'shydraulic turbine of Figure 'ltovirtually any wash+basinrfaucet likely to be 'encounteredrasit'wili be'recognised that these differ widely as to shape and size etc.

InxtheaccompanyingzFigure 9 I have indicated my handpiece @l .as being directly connected to the manually operable electricmotor s viathe gears IJBandiZi! already. described. 'Thisarrange- ,ment eliminates the use of aifiexible shaft 23, and the motor may be quickly stopped. and started by means of 1 the thumb :screw 62. In' Figure 10 I have depicted a wall :mounted motor wherein flexible -shaft:i-2=3 is connected :thereto :bymeans of the pair of gears. collectively designated 63.

Sincemany modifications can be made in the invention herein described and since'the' accompanying drawings have been prepared only to illustrate the relative arrangement and interaction of parts and not with regard to accuracy of dimensions for manufacturing purposes which in view 'of thi'sdisclosure Iconsider to-entail merely mechanical skill together with the skill of .thamechanic'al draftsman, and since many .apparently widely diiferent embodiments of this invention may be made within the spirit and scope of theaccompan'yingclaims withoutdeparting'from such spirit and scope, it; is intended that all matter-contained in=the accompanying specification shall bev interpreted as illustrative only andnotina limiting sense andI desire only such limitations placedthereon as'justice dictates.

What I regard as my invention is:

1. A teeth cleaning assembly comprising in combination with a source of power, a handpiece and a rotary-"applicating element attachedjthereto, said handpiece embodying an elongated, lo ngitudi-nally anddiametrically bisected casing angulated as approximately degresstowards one end thereof and having :anpen-ended aperture extending therethroughtoreceivea primary and secondarydriveshaft, a collaron said primary drive shaft positioned within an angular'recess formed in said casing; said collar and recess functioning to sustain said shaft against end-shifting, means for maintaining the-two parts of-said casing m -symmetrical -contiguity,-said element beingsecured to theend of said secondary driveshaft.

2. 'lhe-assembly according to claimal whichincludes an annular recess in said casing adjacent the end of said secondary shaft and co-axial therewith, -a disc around said -seccnd-a-ryshaft within said recess, a combined attaching head and packing gland on the apical end of said element, said head bearing against said disc durin the teeth-cleaning operation to prevent the leakage of dentifrice therepast as herewithin set forth.

3. In combination, a teeth cleaning assembly comprising as a source of power an hydraulic turbine, a handpiece operatively connected thereto, and a rotary applicating element attached to the latter, said turbine embodying a tubular casing connected at one end with a fluid input duct and at the other with a discharge du-ct, an Archimedean screw rotatably positioned within said casing, a bevel gear carried by said screw, a second bevel gear in mesh therewith, a flexible shaft operatively connected to said second bevel gear, said flexible shaft being connected at the opposite end thereof to said handpiece, said handpiece embodying an elongated, longitudinally and diametrically bisected casing, angulated at approximately 135 degress towards the one end thereof and having an open-ended aperture extending therethrough to receive a primary and secondary drive shaft, a collar on said primary drive shaft positioned within an annular recess formed in said casing, said collar and recess functioning to sustain said shaft against end-shifting, means for maintaining the two parts of said casing in sym- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,907,286 Chott May 2, 1933 2,063,801 Gano Dec. 8, 1936 2,202,299 Pelkey May 28, 1940 OTHER REFERENCES Dental Survey, for January 1934, page 81, advertisement of Wiseman Bros. Specialty C0. 

